Directed by Denis Azarov, Phantoms is based on the psychological drama Ghosts by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, which depicts the tragedy of family breakdown. The story centers on the widow Helena Alving, who opens an orphanage in memory of her late husband. However, this noble undertaking is overshadowed by terrible secrets from the past, which are revealed throughout the play. Ibsen vividly demonstrates how societal prejudices and double standards lead to profound human tragedy.

"This is a story about trying to live someone else's life — about the desire to appear as someone else, to escape the unpleasant truth. But no matter how hard the characters try, the 'phantoms' — metaphors of the past, inner truth, repressed feelings — still return. Reality catches up. I am interested in the theme of disintegration — when what seems strong and stable actually turns out to be fragile and false. At the heart of the story is self-deception: the characters try to project a seemingly prosperous life for their 'clan,' but this construct is held together by hypocrisy and hostility, and therefore inevitably collapses," says Denis Azarov.

Set designer Nikolai Simonov conceived the production in black and white, with shadows, water, and boats serving as key semantic and atmospheric keys. Simonov drew inspiration from the works of Norwegian figurative artist Odd Nerdrum when creating the sets. Composer Kirill Taushkin, Denis Azarov's frequent collaborator, worked on the musical score.